Residents of Sheffield have been crowned the hardiest in the UK – when dealing with the common cold. Research into 2,000 people – 100 from each of the 20 biggest UK cities – found that, as well as being able to go about their daily business with the ailment, those in the steel city also take the fewest sick days because of it, with only half a day off annually.
They were followed by those in Liverpool, Glasgow, and Oxford, as other top cities which also perform well when feeling under the weather. However, it was Londoners who are most likely to struggle to perform when suffering from a cold.
And those in the capital are also catching the most colds, They average five a year, compared to 167 miles up the M1 in Sheffield, where they are only catching two.
Dr Roger Henderson, leading GP and spokesman for Olbas, said: “We are all used to having an occasional cold. In fact, on average, we will catch at least two each year – and we expect to get better quite quickly from them.
“The Covid pandemic, however, has changed our behaviour in many ways, including our attitudes towards health hygiene and how we work when we are feeling unwell. It is really fascinating to learn about the different types of attitudes each part of the country has when it comes to dealing with colds.
“And it certainly seems there’s somewhat of a north-south divide in terms of the amount they are catching, and also how they continue with their business – or not, as the case may be. But at the end of the day, we are all different and have our unique ways of how we cope with, and treat, the common cold.”
The research went on to reveal that, overall, three in 10 of those polled would just work from home if they were suffering from a cold, while 41 per cent would struggle into their place of work. And more than half (51 per cent) say their employer has not encouraged them to stay away at the first sign of a cold since it reopened following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
But 54 per cent recognise colleagues are now more likely to steer clear of the office if they have caught a sniffle.
When talking about the symptoms of a cold, blocked and runny noses are the most difficult ones to deal with. In fact, nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) say they struggle with embarrassment in public because of the symptoms they suffer from, with coughing the one most likely to make them feel uneasy when out and about.
However, this wasn’t always the case – before the start of the pandemic, people were more self-conscious about a runny nose in public than they were of a chesty cough. And, also as a result of the pandemic, more than two in three (68 per cent) now take more measures to avoid coming down with a cold.
These include avoiding crowded places, keeping your hands clean and away from eyes, nose, or mouths, and avoiding touching handrails – with the commute being pinpointed as the most common place to pick up a sniffle. But when all else fails, the research, conducted via OnePoll, found those polled are reaching for the vitamin C and decongestants to beat the symptoms.
More than a quarter (28 per cent) will just try to sleep it off, while and one in seven (14 per cent) crack open a tin of chicken soup. Claire Campbell, from Olbas, added: “It is clear from these results there has been a shift in attitudes when it comes to the common cold, because of the pandemic.
“And as a result, many are being much more vigilant and proactive with their actions. But ultimately there is an air of inevitability surrounding catching a cold – and when it strikes, it is often the home comforts people rely on to make themselves feel better.”
Best UK cities at dealing with a cold
- Sheffield
- Liverpool
- Oxford
- Glasgow
- Newcastle
- Plymouth
- Norwich
- Leicester
- Cardiff
- Southampton
- Leeds
- Cambridge
- Edinburgh
- Bristol
- Belfast
- Manchester
- Brighton
- Birmingham
- York
- London
